“THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” is coming…and, soon, the countdown to the most ambitious comics event of 2016 is starting in a store near you!

As revealed today at the 10th Annual ComicsPRO Membership Meeting in Portland, OR, Valiant has just debuted a wealth of new details and unseen artwork for “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” – Valiant’s much-anticipated event initiative beginning on May 4th in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) by New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt and superstar artist Clayton Crain!

In addition to the first lettered look inside the first issue of Kindt & Crain’s staggering 41st century event series, Valiant has also unveiled first word on the official 4001 A.D. TIME CAPSULE – a mysterious, retailer-exclusive offering encapsulating a treasure trove of exclusive surprises and captivating artifacts from the future of the Valiant Universe! Arriving in advance of 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4)‘s May 4th on-sale date in comic shops throughout the United States and Canada, the 4001 A.D. TIME CAPSULE is built specifically for retailers to display in their stores or on their countertops throughout “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” The key to unlocking this one-of-a-kind mystery item will only be provided upon the arrival of 4001 A.D. #4 (of 4) – the final chapter of Valiant’s blockbuster event series – in late August 2016.

“With 4001 A.D., Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain have a created a massive new frontier for the Valiant Universe – one that is brimming with massive developments for our most well-known heroes, all-new characters to accompany them, and ideas so big that they couldn’t be limited to just one series or even the comic page alone,” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “In fact, we’re so excited to reveal what the future holds for 4001 A.D. that we wanted to bring that same level of anticipation to fans all over the country with the 4001 A.D. time capsule. All summer long, we’ll be releasing teases about the incredible secrets that these unique items contain. Let the speculation begin!”

In tandem with Valiant’s ComicsPRO 2016 presentation, Valiant has also debuted a selection of new artwork and designs from “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” initiative, including full-size looks at a selection of 4001 A.D.’s most important releases, including 4001 A.D.: X-O MANOWAR #1, 4001 A.D.: BLOODSHOT #1, 4001 A.D.: SHADOWMAN #1, and 4001 A.D.: [CLASSIFIED] #1.

Encompassing the core 4001 A.D. event, the return of Valiant’s acclaimed RAI ongoing series, and four all-new one-shots revealing the future incarnations of the Valiant Universe’s most iconic heroes, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” is the biggest and most visionary Valiant event to date – and a perfect introduction to the largest independent superhero universe in comics today. Each chapter of “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” is designed for maximum accessibility and can be read in concert with the core 4001 A.D. series or stand on its own for a new vision of the future of the Valiant Universe.

The fight for the future begins on May 4th in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) – the FIRST ISSUE of the all-new, standalone event series following Rai and the 41st century’s most formidable heroes into the fight against New Japan from New York times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY II) and superstar artist Clayton Crain (RAI)!

Then, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” explodes out of the pages of 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) with the return of Rai’s award-winning ongoing series in RAI #13 – the FIRST ISSUE of an ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT revealing the origin of New Japan and its very first guardian! Discover the secrets behind 4001 A.D. here as New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and acclaimed artist CAFU (UNITY) unearth the answers that have eluded mankind for nearly two millennia. How did New Japan come to orbit Earth? Who created Father? And what happened to the nine previous Rai that once swore allegiance to his empire?

Plus: “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” escalates even further as an all-star cast of superstar talents come aboard to reveal what the 41st century holds for Valiant’s most iconic heroes in a new series of four indispensable one-shots! Featuring X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, and the debut of an all-new, top-secret character with a crucial tie to the present and future of the Valiant Universe, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” erupts into full force here with four new chapters from Valiant’s most acclaimed creators:

4001 A.D.: X-O MANOWAR #1
Written by Robert Venditti (BOOK OF DEATH); Art by Clayton Henry (HARBINGER WARS)
Coming in May

4001 A.D.: SHADOWMAN #1
Written by Jody Houser (FAITH) & Rafer Roberts (A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG); Art by Robert Gill (BOOK OF DEATH)
Coming in July

4001 A.D.: [CLASSIFIED] #1
Written by [CLASSIFIED]; Art by [CLASSIFIED]
Coming in August

One hundred years from today, Father – the benevolent artificial intelligence that governs the island nation of Japan – will gain sentience. To defend its borders, Father will take drastic action by launching Japan into space…where its people can thrive in isolation, away from the overpopulated and resource-deprived planet below. Over the centuries, as New Japan orbits our increasingly unstable world, it will become a model society – one built on peace, prosperity…and Father’s control.

A thousand years from today, Father will create the first Rai, founding a lineage of technologically enhanced heroes engineered to defend New Japan and sworn to protect it from all enemies. For hundreds of years into the future, the Rai will single-handedly enforce New Japan’s justice well…and serve Father without question.

Now, at the dawn of 4001 A.D., the latest Rai is about to inherit the dark truth behind the origin of his kind…and discover the sinister secret at the heart of Father’s existence. For New Japan to live, Earth must die…and as Rai challenges his former master for the first time in more than a millennium, the lone guardian of New Japan will be cast out of his own Father’s kingdom…

Exiled from the only realm he’s ever known, Rai now walks the ravaged world of 4001 A.D. in search of forgotten heroes like himself…on a mission to collect the last surviving legends of a broken planet…and to forge a rebellion with the power to bring the most advanced civilization in history crashing back down to Earth.

Earth must rise. Father must fall. Rai! Eternal Warrior! X-O Manowar! Bloodshot! Shadowman! Geomancer! And more! The war for the ultimate fate of humanity begins in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) by superstar creators Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain – and continues in May and beyond as “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” rages on…and changes the future of the Valiant Universe for all time!